Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-11-24
AMONG THE FREAKS.


What They Receive for Exhibiting Them.
selves in Dime Museums
New York is the great market place
for freaks. The Bowery is the Mecca
of the Chinese giant, the hairy boy
from Burmah, the India-rubber man,
the Chicago girl with big feet, the
living skeleton and the man who is go
ing to swim the whirlpool ut Niagara
Once in each year, generally in July OF
August. the great family of monstrosi-
ties come to New York. They blister
their feet walking here from every cor
ner of the United States They toll up
and down the busy street in the scorch-
ing sun, waiting for managers to en-
gage them for the next winter.
The Bowery is the freaks exchange.
1t is to him what the Stock Exchange
or the Board of Trade is to the stock
p or wheat broker. All are on a level at
the Bowery. The man who can masti-
cate a pound of glass in fifteen seconds
is no better than the boy who swallows
needles. The fat woman. although a
drug in the market, holds her nose as
high in the air as the fair dame who
The Chinese giant is of no more i'm
pOrtance than the woman who has not
spoken u word since the day she was
weaned. To be sure the latter is good
deal of rarity, but until the bedia-
monded and OleaginOus dime museum
dealer appears and the freak signs his
or her contracJ for the next season all
are on an equality.
The managers flock here in droves
during July. They come from Osh-
kosh. New Jersey. Buffalo. Boston and
other places where culture sits on a
pedestal. They are on the alert for
novelties. They want to get them
cheap. The important freaks are en-
gagged first. A few staple freaks are
engaged for the season and lazy boys.
fat women, giants. Brooklyn-bridge
jumpers, the man without tongue
and other stars are signed to appear at
intervals.
Is il profitable to be freakP
Well, yes, considering.
Fat men and women are paid accord
ing to their weight. The average is
about $50 per week. Very heavy men
or women get us high us $50. Begin
ners receive from 500 to $25 and are
advanced as they become heavier.
Circassian girls are not profitable. 1t
doesn't really pay to be a Circassian
girl now. The market is fiat at 500 to
$25 week. Tattooed men come n lit
tie higher. They can be obtained for
$15 per week, but the genuine article
readily brings $40 per week.
at don't pay to do tattoo now" said
one of these gentry recently. "a man S
think I'll try the india rubber act or
the pie-eatin' racket. / can get 500 Il
week for eatin' twenty pies day. It's
great, pard."
India-rubber men come high. They
are not numerous. They are always
good drawing cards. 1t isn't every
one who can be rubber man. 1t is
hard work and is great strain on the
beginner. Still. it is profitable. Ex-
boys from Burmah are also in demand.
They receive 300 per week. Men
who can eat glass are not rare nova
days. First-class glass eaters get only
$40 week. It's great strain on a
man to eat glass. Sword swallowing is
more profitable. A woman who can
eat sword after sword until she is
gorged gets $40 week, and is in great
contrast to Chicago girls with big feet.
Years ago such women were rare. but
the bull market in the staple has been
fattened out. and they can be had now
for $12 weekly. The supply of bridge
jumpers exceeds the demand, and can
be had for 81 day. Fire-eaters are
paid $40 weekly. Snake-charmers get
as high as $50. The man with the iron
jaw is very numerous. He is quoted
at $40 to SIS weekly.-M 7. Cor. CHI
cGgO Tribune.